Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The new Kids Count policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that 6.5 million 16- to 24-year-olds are jobless and out of school. The lack of education, opportunity and connection to school or work has long-term implications for their financial stability as adults and can present significant costs to taxpayers, as government spends more to support them.

The report emphasizes the need to provide multiple, flexible pathways to success for disconnected young people and find ways to reengage high-school dropouts. The report also advocates creating experiences that allow youth to gain early job skills through community service, internships, summer and part-time work and other opportunities.